The Ellen Show
| The Ellen Show | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by |
Ellen DeGeneres Mitchell Hurwitz (co-creator) Carol Leifer (co-creator) |
| Starring |
Ellen DeGeneres Jim Gaffigan Emily Rutherfurd Martin Mull Kerri Kenney Cloris Leachman |
| Theme music composer | Jude Christodal |
| Composer(s) | David Schwartz |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 18 (5 unaired) |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
The Hurwitz Company CBS Productions Columbia TriStar Television |
| Distributor | Sony Pictures Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | September 24, 2001 – January 11, 2002 |
The Ellen Show is a television sitcom created by and starring Ellen DeGeneres that was broadcast during the 2001–02 season on CBS. It was DeGeneres's second attempt at a sitcom, following Ellen on ABC (1994–98), but it was unable to attract strong ratings and was quickly cancelled after 13 episodes, leaving 5 episodes unaired.
After coming out as a lesbian on her first sitcom, DeGeneres's character on The Ellen Show, Ellen Richmond, was also a lesbian, although the show did not focus as heavily on the character's sexuality as did the final season of her first sitcom.
The Ellen Show also starred Cloris Leachman, Martin Mull, Kerri Kenney, Jim Gaffigan, and Emily Rutherfurd.
Plot
After her internet company Homelearn.com goes bankrupt, Ellen Richmond decides to move back to her hometown to live with her eccentric mother, Dot, and scatter-brained sister, Catherine. At home, Ellen becomes reacquainted with her senior prom date, Rusty, who thinks they can pick up where they left off (which, since she is a lesbian, seems unlikely), and her befuddled high school teacher, Mr. Munn. Though worlds apart from the people who love her, Ellen begins to adjust to a very different way of life and takes a job as a guidance counselor at her former high school.
Cast
Main
- Ellen DeGeneres as Ellen Richmond
- Jim Gaffigan as Rusty Carnouk
- Emily Rutherfurd as Catherine Richmond
- Martin Mull as Ed Munn
- Kerri Kenney as Pam
- Cloris Leachman as Dot Richmond
- Diane Delano as Bunny Hoppstetter
Guest stars
- Jennifer Irwin as Meg (episode: "Pilot")
- Regan Burns as Officer "B" Arthur (episodes: "Walden Pond", "Joe"")
- John Francis Daley as Erik (episode: "Walden Pond")
- Susan Yeagley as Waitress (episode: "Chain Reaction")
- Marissa Jaret Winokur as Tina (episode: "Vanity Hair")
- Tom Poston as Joe (episode: "Joe")
- Betty White as Mrs. Gibson (episode: "Missing the Bus")
- Dakota Fanning as Young Ellen (episode: "Missing the Bus")
- Mary Tyler Moore as Aunt Mary (episode: "Ellen's First Christmess")
- Ed Asner as Santa Claus (episode: "Ellen's First Christmess")
- John Ritter as Percy Moss (episode: "Gathering Moss")
- Maureen McCormick as Rita Carter (episode: "Shallow Gal")
- Kaley Cuoco as Vanessa Carter (episode: "Shallow Gal")
Production
The show was created by Carol Leifer and Mitchell Hurwitz, who co-wrote the pilot episode. The original title was Ellen Again.[1]
Episodes
The Ellen Show produced 18 episodes, but was canceled mid-way through its season. The final 5 episodes were never broadcast, but are available on DVD.
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | September 24, 2001 |
| 2 | "Walden Pond" | September 28, 2001 |
| 3 | "Chain Reaction" | October 5, 2001 |
| 4 | "Vanity Hair" | October 12, 2001 |
| 5 | "The Move" | October 19, 2001 |
| 6 | "Muskrat Love" | October 26, 2001 |
| 7 | "Joe" | November 2, 2001 |
| 8 | "Cathy's Taffy" | November 9, 2001 |
| 9 | "Missing the Bus" | November 16, 2001 |
| 10 | "Alive and Kicking" | December 10, 2001 |
| 11 | "Ellen's First Christmess" | December 17, 2001 |
| 12 | "A Bird in the Hand" | January 4, 2002 |
| 13 | "Just the Duck" | January 11, 2002 |
| 14 | "Shallow Gal" | Unaired |
| 15 | "Gathering Moss" | Unaired |
| 16 | "A Matter of Principal" | Unaired |
| 17 | "Where the Sun Doesn't Shine" | Unaired |
| 18 | "One for the Roadshow" | Unaired |
DVD releases
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in Region 1, for the very first time, in a 2-disc box set on July 11, 2006.[2] As of 2013, this release has been discontinued and is out of print.
In 2014, Mill Creek Entertainment acquired the rights to the series and subsequently re-released the complete series on February 4, 2014.[3]
Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, in partnership with CBS Home Entertainment, owns the international rights. The complete series was released in Region 4 (Australia) as a 2 DVD set on February 1, 2017 by Umbrella Entertainment.
References
- ↑ "Ellen's Return". The Advocate. June 5, 2001. p. 24.
- ↑ "The Ellen Show DVD news: Front & Back art for 2001 sitcom - TVShowsOnDVD.com". www.tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19.
- ↑ "The Ellen Show DVD news: Re-Release for The Ellen Show - The Complete Series - TVShowsOnDVD.com". www.tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-22.